Folding and portable table for massage or for any other type of treatment

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a portable and folding table consisting of a base ( 2 ) designed to support a plate ( 3 ) whereon a person can lie down, characterised in that: the plate has length and width greater than the support surface of the base on the ground; The lower part of the plate ( 3 ) comprises means to be fitted onto the base while being supported around and against the peripheral edge of the box forming said base; the articulation between the two panels ( 9 ) forming the plate, is formed by a connecting strip ( 12 ) on either side of which the elementary panels ( 9 ) are linked so as to form two articulations ( 13 ), the width of said connecting strip ( 12 ) being not less than the total thickness of the folded side walls of the box(es) forming the base, the dimensions of the two elementary panels ( 9 ) forming said plate corresponding substantially to the height and the width of the non-folding side surfaces of the elementary box(es) forming the base.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of thetreatment of an individual, lying down either directly on the ground orat a raised level, so as to allow him to perform exercises or to bemanipulated and/or treated, for example during massage.

[0002] It relates more particularly to a novel type of table which isfolding and portable and consists, in the known way, of an underframeand of a top intended to support the person in the lying-down position.

[0003] In the remainder of the description, the novel type of tableaccording to the invention will be termed a “massage table” even thoughit could possibly be used for other applications.

PRIOR ART

[0004] Aside from conventional massage tables, the underframe and top ofwhich are permanently joined together, it has long been proposed, forsuch a use, for folding portable tables to be produced.

[0005] Among the solutions hereto proposed, mention may be made of thosewhich form the subject matter of, in particular, the French Patents 2611 123, 2 591 475 and 2 555 422.

[0006] In all these installations which, in general, can be comparedwith folding tables used in the field of leisure, the underframe isfixed permanently to the top and consists of uprights associatedpossibly with crossmembers which are articulated to the top and can befolded up against this top, said top also consisting of a number ofelements which can be folded one against the other.

[0007] Of these devices, the most tempting solution is the one coveredby FR 2 555 422 in which the top consists of two equal parts hingedtogether, and is equipped with legs which can be folded against theunderside of said top, making it possible, in the folded and closedcondition, to have an assembly which is somewhat in the form of asuitcase.

[0008] An embodiment such as this is, however, relatively complex and,in practice, the bearings supporting the hinge pins may become worn tothe point of breakage. In addition, while the fact of having legs whichallow for heightwise adjustment may seem tempting, this capability is tothe detriment of the stability of the table, and the table is tricky tolevel because the eight legs that such a table has have to be adjustedindependently of one another.

[0009] It has also been proposed, as is apparent from FR-A-2 572 633,for folding and collapsible furniture to be produced which is made up ofan underframe intended to support a top.

[0010] In such an embodiment, the underframe consists of aparallelepipedal block with four vertical faces and forming an open boxstructure at its base and at its upper part, said vertical faces beinghinged one to the next in pairs along their common edge.

[0011] A solution such as this does, however, pose problems when thereis a desire to store and transport the assembly after having collapsedit, given that the side faces of the underframe are simply folded oneagainst the other, thus giving rise to a lengthwise bulk which is twicethe width of each side of the base.

[0012] In Patent U.S. Pat. No. 4 138 951, which relates to a collapsibleand folding table, also consisting of an underframe and of a top whichcan be set onto the upper part of the underframe, the side faces of saidunderframe comprise fold zones making it possible to reduce the bulk ofthe assembly for storage and transport. Likewise, the top may also befolded at its central part.

[0013] A solution such as this is not, however, entirely satisfactory,because the underframe occupies a footprint identical to that of thetop, and the way in which it is held on said top lacks reliability.

[0014] Furthermore, when the underframe and the top are folded, theyform an entity which is relatively bulky and difficult to transport andto store.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The invention sets out to propose a novel type of massage table,which can be folded and is portable, and which is not only extremelysimple but also makes it possible to obtain perfect stability duringuse.

[0016] It is also aimed at a novel type of table which eliminates anyrisks of wear and of breakage that the presence of articulations in theprior-art solutions entail.

[0017] Finally, it sets out to produce a structure such that the top cannot only be used normally, combined with an underframe, but which canalso possibly be used by laying it directly on the ground, thusproviding the user with an exercise mat.

[0018] In general, the novel type of folding and portable tableaccording to the invention is therefore made up of an underframeintended to support a top on which a person can lie down, and in which:

[0019] the underframe consists of at least one parallelepipedal blockhaving just four vertical faces and forming an open box structure at itsbase and at its top, said vertical faces being hinged one to the next inpairs along their common edge;

[0020] the top consists of at least two panels hinged together.

[0021] The table according to the invention is characterized in that:

[0022] the top has a length and a width that exceeds the footprint ofthe underframe;

[0023] the underside of the top has means capable of fitting onto theunderframe and resting around and against the peripheral rim of the boxstructure forming said underframe;

[0024] the hinged articulation between the two panels constituting thetop is formed of a connecting strip, to each side of which the elementalpanels are connected so as to form two articulations, the width of saidconnecting strip being at least equal to the total thickness of thefolded side walls of the box structure or structures that forms or formthe underframe, the dimensions of the two elemental portionsconstituting said top more or less corresponding to the height and tothe width of the non-folding side faces of the elemental box structureor structures that forms or form the underframe.

[0025] According to the simplest embodiment, the underframe consists ofa single parallelepipedal block, the long side faces of which have anumber of fold zones.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, said underframe ispreferably made up of two parallelepipedal blocks that can be pushedtogether, two opposite faces having a fold zone at their central part.

[0027] In this preferred embodiment, the connecting central partcomprises, on its underside, means designed to fit onto and around theends of the panels on each side of the juxtaposed faces of the twoelemental blocks that form the underframe, thus improving the stabilityof the whole.

[0028] By way of material that can be used to produce the box structuresthat form the underframe, use may be made of sheets of densified board,plastic, so as to form, in the unfolded state, a structure ofparallelepipedal shape hinged at its four corners, two opposed wallsknown as the “front face” and the “rear face” also having a fold zonealong their entire height.

[0029] By virtue of a design such as this, the two box structures can befolded, the two side faces trapping between them the front and rearfaces of the box structure which are folded. During transport, the boxstructures thus folded are arranged between the elemental panels thatmake up the top, held together by any appropriate means such as a strap,so as to form a compact entity that is easy to store and to transport.

[0030] The top for example consists of a sheet of plastic comprising,along its length, one or two fold zones and covered on its top face witha layer which provides the user with comfort, for example a layer ofthermocompressed foam, forming a kind of mat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The invention will, however, be better understood by virtue ofthe concrete exemplary embodiment given hereinbelow by way ofnonlimiting indication and which is illustrated by the appended diagramsin which:

[0032]FIG. 1 illustrates schematically, in perspective, one preferredform of a massage table according to the invention, during its use;

[0033]FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 illustrate, also in perspective, the variousphases of operation for collapsing and folding the various elements thatmake up such a table so as to gather them together (FIG. 5) when thereis a desire to move the table;

[0034]FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative form of box structure forforming the underframe of the table according to the invention;

[0035]FIGS. 7 and 8 are, respectively, views in cross section and inlongitudinal section of a table produced in accordance with theinvention and more specifically showing the way in which the table topis associated with its underframe;

[0036]FIG. 9 illustrates a simplified form of a variant of a foldingunderframe for producing a table according to the invention.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0037] Referring to the appended diagrams, the invention thereforerelates to a novel type of table, denoted by the general reference (1),which is therefore made up of an underframe, denoted by the generalreference (2), supporting a top (3) on which a person can lie down.

[0038] The underframe (2) consists of two parallelepipedal blocksdenoted by the same reference (4), which are open at their base and attheir top and therefore have just four vertical faces (5 a, 5 b, 6 a, 6b) articulated one to the next in pairs along their common edge (7), thetwo opposed faces (6 a, 6 b) having a fold zone (8) at their centralpart.

[0039] The top (3) has a length and a width that exceed the footprint ofthe underframe which therefore consists of the two box structures (Sa)pushed together. This top (3) consists of at least two panels (9) hingedtogether.

[0040] The top is covered on its upper face with a layer of materialwhich provides the patient with comfort.

[0041] On its underside (10) it has means (11) capable of fitting ontothe box structures forming the underframe by resting against theperipheral rim of said box structures.

[0042] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the appended figures,the two main elements (9) of which the top is made are hinged togetherby a connecting strip (12) on each side of which the elemental panelsare connected so as to form two hinged articulations (13).

[0043] The underside of this connecting strip (12) is shaped as a groovedefined between two bulges in relief (14) which traps the two side faces(6 a, 6 b) of the two elemental box structures (see FIG. 8).

[0044] A top such as this is preferably made by thermoforming a plastic.

[0045] When the top and the underframe are associated with one anotheras shown in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, a perfectly stable table is obtained.

[0046] To obtain an entity which can be transported in a minimum amountof space, the dimensions of the elemental box structures (4) are suchthat the area of the side walls (Sa, Sb) correspond to the area of thepanels (9) of which the top is made.

[0047] Furthermore, the connecting zone (12) has a width such that it isequal to about eight times the thickness of the side walls of the boxstructures.

[0048] By way of indication, in the case of a massage table 69 cm wideand a total of 180 cm long, and in which the box structures forming theunderframe are made of a material such as densified board with athickness of 1.5 cm, the side faces (5 a, 5 b) will be 67 cm tall and 82cm long, the width of the panel (6) being 63 cm, the dimensions of theelemental panels (9) corresponding to those of the lateral panels (5)and the joining zone (12) having a width of 14 cm.

[0049] By virtue of such a design, it is possible, as is apparent fromFIGS. 3 to 5, for said table easily to be collapsed, each box structurebeing folded in such a way that the faces (6 a, 6 b) fold about thevertical axis (8) and are held between the side faces (5 a, 5 b), thetop is itself also folded and is arranged around the box structures(FIG. 4), the end edges of the tops then being held together by anyappropriate means, such as by means of a strap.

[0050] With the edges thus folded, all of the elements of which thetable is made can therefore easily be stored and transported.

[0051] When said table is to be erected, this operation can be performedvery quickly by opening the clasp (10) (FIG. 5) then by unfolding thebox structures (FIG. 4) and the top (FIG. 3). With the two boxstructures pushed together, the underside of said top is then fittedinto the underframe thus formed.

[0052] Of course, the invention is not restricted to the concreteembodiment described and provision could be made, as is apparent fromFIG. 6, for there to be additional box structures designed to taketransverse reinforcements, such as sheets that can be fitted intogrooves made at the upper part of the side faces (5) of each boxstructure.

[0053] Aside from its great ease of setting-up, such a table also hasadditional advantages through the fact that, as the side walls of theunderframe are solid, they can be used to support decorative oradvertizing material.

[0054] Moreover, additional means may be provided for keeping theelemental box structures folded up, for example by providing attachmentmeans of the “Velcro” type on the folded faces.

[0055] Likewise, when the underframe consists of two elemental boxstructures, these may have attachment means, also of the “Velcro” type,on the faces facing each other.

[0056] Finally, provision may be made for lateral orifices to be made inthe walls of the box structure or structures that forms or form theunderframe, these orifices being to hold various accessories.

[0057] Finally, as is apparent from FIG. 9, the underframe may just aseasily be produced from a single block of parallelepipedal shape.

[0058] In such an embodiment, the side faces will have fold zones (8),while the front and rear faces will, for their part, be formed of rigidpanels.

[0059] As in the preferred embodiment described previously, it istherefore possible to fold up the underframe which, in its folded form,therefore has a thickness corresponding to the total sum of thethicknesses of each element of the articulated walls.

[0060] In such a case, the top will preferably be produced as before,with a central zone (12), thus allowing this element to be used to foldaround the underframe in its folded state.

1. A folding and transportable table made up of an underframe (2)intended to support a top (3) on which a person can lie down, and inwhich: the underframe (2) consists of at least one parallelepipedalblock having just four vertical faces and forming an open box structureat its base and at its top, said vertical faces being hinged one to thenext in pairs along their common edge; the top (3) consists of at leasttwo panels (9) hinged together, characterized in that: the top has alength and a width that exceeds the footprint of the underframe; theunderside of the top (3) has means capable of fitting onto theunderframe and resting around and against the peripheral rim of the boxstructure forming said underframe; the hinged articulation between thetwo panels (9) constituting the top is formed of a connecting strip(12), to each side of which the elemental panels (9) are connected so asto form two articulations (13), the width of said connecting strip (12)being at least equal to the total thickness of the folded side walls ofthe box structure or structures that forms or form the underframe, thedimensions of the two elemental portions (9) constituting said top moreor less corresponding to the height and to the width of the non-foldingside faces of the elemental box structure or structures that forms orform the underframe:
 2. The folding and portable table as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that the top face of the top is covered with alayer of material that provides the patient with comfort.
 3. The tableas claimed in one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that theunderframe (2) consists of a single box structure of parallelepipedalshape, the long side faces of which have a number of fold zones.
 4. Thetable as claimed in one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that theunderframe (2) consists of two parallelepipedal blocks (4) that can bepushed together, two opposite faces (6 a, 6 b) having a fold zone (8) attheir central part.
 5. The table as claimed in claim 4, characterized inthat the connecting central part (12) comprises, on its underside, means(14) designed to fit onto and around the ends of the panels on each sideof the juxtaposed faces of the two elemental blocks that form theunderframe.
 6. The table as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5,characterized in that the box structure or structures that forms or formthe underframe (2) is or are made of sheets of densified board, plastic,etc.
 7. The table as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized inthat the top (3) consists of a sheet of thermoformed plastic covered onits top face with a layer that provides the user with comfort, such as alayer of thermocompressed foam, and comprises, on its underside, zonesin relief capable of fitting inside the box structure or structures thatforms or form the underframe resting against or around the walls of thisor these box structure(s).